The Kern County Sheriff's Department have released the names of the two kidnapping victims involved with the incidents of Friday, Oct. 25. The two subjects inside the trunk of Sergio Munoz’s vehicle have been identified as 24-year-old Matthew Guidangen and 23-year-old Amanda Garcia, both of Ridgecrest. “Guidangen and Garcia are currently listed as in stable condition at Antelope Valley Hospital. The relationship between Munoz, Guidangen, and Garcia is still under investigation. As more information regarding this case becomes available, it will be released,” the KCSO stated.

According to both KCSO and the Ridgecrest Police Department, who are dually investigating the case, Munoz took the two hostage for an unknown reason on Friday morning. Munoz asked Garcia to come over to his house around 4 a.m. Guidangen showed up at the residence for an unknown reason. Munoz then forced Guidangen into the trunk of Munoz' vehicle. He then had Garcia drive him to a residence in the 500 block of Atkins Street where Thaddeus Meier and Brittany Matheny were. Munoz then put Garcia in the trunk. He entered the house and shot its two occupants, fatally wounding Matheny. Meier's condition is unknown, but was transported to Ridgecrest Regional Hospital for treatment.

Munoz would then drive around Ridgecrest firing a gun at oncoming traffic, police and through the back seat at Garcia and Guidangen in the trunk.

The two tried to warn police Munoz was armed by opening the trunk while Munoz was driving.

Munoz was stopped 10 miles north of Kramer Junction on Highway 395 after a chase by officers from RPD, CHP and KCSO. Munoz stepped out and again fired at the trunk of his vehicle and at police. Garcia and Guidangen were able to escape the trunk with their lives. Munoz exchanged gunfire with police before being fatally wounded. Munoz died in a suspected suicide-by-cop scenario.